The Art of Waiting

Ashen’s life did not change much since Cain’s last tantrum.

The child’s annoyances stayed the same, and so did Ashen’s reactions to them. Lapis had become much less forgiving, however, and Ashen had to stop her from completely snapping at Cain while reminding her that he was still only a kid in the end.

Training with his older brothers hadn’t changed much either.

The variety and strength of Narkals increased as the days passed, and the drills were becoming intolerable, but Ashen did not feel it.

Anyone with his experiences would have reacted the same way, in fact. Sadly, the other children had no memories of tangling with monsters at the edge of death for years and living to tell the tale.

So, to them, the ramped-up difficulty was nothing short of hellish.

If there was one place where Ashen experienced something new, it was undoubtedly when he tended to the manaweaves at the farm.

The novelty in question came from one of his two newly granted Pathskills.

Patient Eye.

It was a skill that allowed one to observe the world from a completely different perspective: the perspective of a caretaker.

But perhaps because it was born from Sloth concepts, the skill did not reveal everything at once. Instead, it required long periods of observation.

That was why, even after hours of observation, what Ashen was currently seeing as he glared at the poor manaweave amounted to little more than nothing.

◉◉◉

[ PATIENT EYE ]

Target: Manaweave

Form: Tree

Structure: Fragile

Mana Intake: Minute

A nascent manaweave of Tree alignment.

Its structure remains undeveloped and easily disrupted.

It is currently absorbing minute quantities of ambient mana.

◉◉◉

He looked at the other two, and it was the same.

‘If not for the skill’s description, I would have definitely thought this was a complete bust…’ Ashen thought in relief, though clear impatience could already be seen on his face.

To placate himself for the nth time, he pulled up Patient Eye’s information and read it again.

◉◉◉

Patient Eye

Observe the world through the perspective of a Nurturer.

The longer you observe a target, the more clearly you perceive its condition, gradually revealing its weaknesses, needs, desires, and deficiencies.

Prolonged observation may reveal the target's potential, mental state, lingering traumas, and hidden causes of physical or spiritual abnormalities.

With sufficient understanding, you may perceive possible methods of healing, development, and nurturing that would otherwise remain hidden.

◉◉◉

“Phew… am I really cut out for this…?”

It had only been a couple of days since he chose this new Path of embracing a purer version of Sloth, and he was already getting impatient. Lapis’s grand-looking skills did not make it any easier.

“No… since I already chose, there’s no going back now. Impatience is poison. I should remain calm… calm… like a patient farmer… yes…”

Ashen kept muttering to himself, though it was clear that he still had a long way to go in the art of taking it easy.

◉

Ashen’s needless agitation was ignored by most, and time, as well, paid him no heed as it continued its endless, uninterrupted passage.

Now, he was seven years old, and in the year that had passed since he reconnected with the system, Ashen was still stuck in the Seventh Step.

At first, he was almost going crazy from it; the first time around, he was already gunning for the Fifth Step within the same timeframe, yet here he was…

“What is even a freaking cultivator anyway? I’m already spending hours tending to the vegetation on the farm, damn it!”

Ashen’s whining reverberated yet again across the bedroom walls, yet the two girls who heard him did not react much. They were already used to it by now.

“Big brother, maybe it’s because the plants you are tending have not matured yet?”

Misty, who was resting on his lap, gave her take in a soft voice.

“You have already said that you felt progress in your embodiment, no? I don’t understand why you are impatient…”

“You don’t get it, Misty… at this point, I should be Fourth Step at least!”

“The majority of our siblings at the same age are still Seventh Step, though?”

“I’m not!”

Lapis, who was swinging her katana on the other side of the room, finally chimed in.

“But little sister, you’re just the strange one among us.”

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“Hey, I’m perfectly normal! You guys are just slow~”

“Haaah…”

That taunt only added one more sigh from Ashen.

As for what Misty was talking about, she was addressing Ashen’s new source of impatience. His Seventh Step epithet: Cultivator.

At first, he momentarily thought he was going to turn into one of those characters Alice liked to read about and meditate like a monk to “cultivate” his spirit and mana.

That delusion was shattered soon after when the method yielded no progress.

‘Thinking about it, that was one of the most foolish things I have done until now… the clues obviously point toward another direction.’

It turned out that it was nothing complicated. He just had to cultivate, as in nurture, other things, or even himself.

Meaning, simply taking care of others and the greenery. Of course, as long as something was living, he could attempt to cultivate it, but in this underground base, those were the two things at his disposal.

“Anyway. You should take it easy, big brother. I think you are doing great already. No one can beat you in fighting!”

Ashen simply caressed the girl’s hair with a silent smile. It was clear that he did not think the same. But what could thinking accomplish in this case…?

‘Nothing.’ Ashen decided. ‘Slow and steady, then.’

Finally, after coming to an internal acceptance of his circumstances, he refocused on the task he had been doing before he spiraled into complaining.

◉◉◉

[ PATIENT EYE ]

Target: Lapis Hunt

Current Activity: Sword Training

Physical State: Stable

Emotional State: Joyful

Observed Conditions:

Her grip on the curved blade is marginally tighter than optimal.

At her current pace, continued training for another fifteen minutes will begin to strain her body and hinder recovery.

A short rest is advised afterward, preferably accompanied by a nutritious meal before training resumes.

Deeper Observations:

She is enjoying herself.

She longs for the comforting embrace of her brother.

Beneath her joy lies a fear of dying without warning in

this harsh environment.

She is also afraid that her brother may die before she does.

◉◉◉

‘Hmm… after observing her for a year, it had come a long way from simply showing her name.’

Ashen’s eyes lingered on her fear of death for a moment before he moved past it. He couldn’t do anything about it for now, and it was not like he did not have the same fear.

“Relax your grip a fraction.”

“Yes, bro!”

Swoosh—

Lapis adjusted instantly, making her heavenly talent with the blade known once again, while showcasing her trust in her brother just as much.

One would think someone of her talent would eventually get arrogant, and she did, but that arrogance never extended to Ashen.

This allowed him to easily guide her, unlike the other brats who would make faces at him whenever he gave them advice.

“Alright, come here and take a break.”

“Phew! Okay.”

Lapis stopped at once and picked up a towel to wipe the sweat from her forehead.

It did not do much, since she was soaked from head to toe after that training session, but that did not stop her from rushing to the bed and jumping at her bro bro.

Ashen, already knowing about her eager desire to hug him, was prepared for it with his arms wide open.

“Humm~ lemme recharge with a dose of cuteness, hehehe…”

“Sure, sure…”

“You two are really close, huh?”

Misty’s airy voice sounded from beside them on the bed.

“We sure are. I’m his little wife, after all. Pfft!”

“Hey… that joke is past its one-year anniversary; let it rest already…”

Ashen rebuked his little sister exasperatedly. If he knew she would latch onto it like this, he would have probably kept his mouth shut.

“Huh? Am I wrong?”

Lapis looked at him innocently, but seeing that he wasn’t playing along, turned to her so-called big sister.

“Am I wrong, Misty?”

“No? You are going to get married, so it’s fine?” She smiled at them with a vague smile.

“See, bro? Misty says so, so it must be so, hah.” Lapis poked his cheeks as she haughtily proclaimed.

“Whatever floats your boat, girls…”

“And Misty, you won’t escape his clutches too, you know?”

Lapis completely ignored her brother as she used him as a huggable plushy and looked at Misty again.

“Huh?”

A bunch of question marks floated above the little girl’s head.

“You probably don’t know it, but our brother has supreme potential to be a scumbag, or as he calls it, a harem master. And it’s clear that he has his eyes on you to enter his harem eventually. He’s only waiting for you to grow up.”

Misty looked at her sister’s smirking face, and her expression only turned more confused.

“Harem? Scumbag…? What does that mean? Is it a special warrior?”

“…”

Bam—!

“Ayee!!!”

Lapis clutched her head in pain, courtesy of the human-sized plushie she was squeezing.

“Stop teaching her strange things, you bratty girl.”

“Sozzy…”

“You better be… haaah.”

Sighing like an old man, Ashen decided to change the subject before Lapis’s mouth spouted anything more outrageous.

“Let me see your manaweaves now.”

“Okaay~”

“Ok~”

The two nodded obediently, and Ashen activated the second Pathskill he had obtained after choosing his Thema and Sin.

◉◉◉

Late Bloomer

Imbue an object or person with a nascent manaweave.

The manaweave will slowly develop within its host over time, drawing nourishment from the care and attention given to it. Its growth is affected by the host's condition, environment, experiences, and the quality of its nourishment.

When the manaweave eventually blooms, it grants gifts according to how it developed and how well it was nurtured.

These gifts may include increased potential, accelerated growth, improvement of the host's vessel, or even, in exceedingly rare cases, the conditions necessary for the host to develop a suitable Concept.

The manaweave cannot be forced to bloom prematurely without risking its development.

◉◉◉

He had used it on every member of his family during the last year, in fact, but like his other skill, this one also required patience and constant care to eventually see results.

In truth, both skills required minimal interference from him aside from observation and occasional care. With enough time, he could reap the fruits.

That was the essence of Sloth: remaining idle while silently accumulating, and before long, one would become a monster.

‘That strange woman is the perfect example.’

Ashen thought silently as he remembered Astrid’s Concepts and power, but he soon shook his head, dispelling the wandering thoughts before focusing on his skill.

Using it in conjunction with Patient Eye showed him the position and condition of the manaweaves planted inside his sisters.

‘Lapis’s took root inside her heart, while Misty’s is inside her brain…’

They had no adverse effects, because they did not even feed on their host’s mana. Instead, they grew slowly on their own over time.

If there was any food to be talked about, it would be his care.

Whenever he cared for the person in question in any way or shape, the manaweave would react and become more active.

That was why the most developed ones were Lapis’s and Misty’s, followed closely by the one planted inside his mother’s abdomen.

‘Those three are the ones I spend the most time with out of anyone, so it can’t be helped…’

Ashen finally stopped channeling the skill and turned to the curious-looking girls.

“Everything is good, but they are still looking years away from blooming, so there’s that.”

“It’s fine. Not like we need them to bloom right this instant, yeah?”

Lapis smiled reassuringly.

“Yes, and the more they grow, the better it would be later, so this is not bad, hum~”

“You two are right.”

Ashen smiled at their optimism before silently mocking himself.

‘You should take notes, you punk. Even two little girls are more patient than you.’

◉

Thankfully, Ashen seemed to have taken his own advice to heart, and little by little, he shed his on-edge mentality and learned to appreciate the slowness of life.

Time continued its own unforgiving march; however, this time around, it only served to temper his patience anew.

During this time, he learned one lesson: the enemy of Sloth was not diligence, hard work, or even the act of moving.

It was something much simpler.

Waiting.

Waiting was his greatest enemy, and fighting it taught him to live in the moment instead of obsessing over a distant future at the expense of the present.

And when he reached ten years old, he was eventually rewarded for it.